The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-21
\ NOtNTAEN SENSATION.
The Systematic Robbery of Trains OF.
the Air Line Railroad by an Or
ganiZed Gang of Thieves.

the Air Line Railroad by an Or
ganiZed Gang of Thieves.
.>j,cciM Dispatch 10 tie Nc,rs anl Courier.
GKEENvILLE, April ia sensation
was cluScJ here to-day by the arrest of
i white man and two negroes charged
with being implicated in l scheme for
wholesale robbery Of the through freight
train passing this point on the Air Line
Railroad. John Caldwell, the white
man OF the party, is very widely known
in the city and has rather L faulty repu-
tation. lie claims to be 4 mechanic, but
for some time has been employed by L.
W. Davis in selling organs and machines.
OF the two negroes arrested with him
VIM. Froneberger is light mulatto and
moves in the highest circles of colorcd
society. He has perhaps the best rcpu-
tation among the people generally Of
any man OF his race in the city. His
arrest in consequence was shock to
those who knew him
The third man, Joe Harris, is a negro
OF unsavory reputation. All three were
committed to Jail, but later il the day
Froneberger WAS released on $3.50 bail,
Wilson Cook and J. A Russell being his
bondslacn. The facts OF the arrest are
withheld because Of the remarkable na-
ture OF the scheme of robbery unearthed
in connection Herewith. Since about
November last the authorities of the
Richmond and Danyille Railroad have
missed various articles OF freight from
trains en- route southwark. Goods to the
amount OF nearly $4,000 have been re-
ported missing. The robbery was traced
to this point, and Depot Agent c. II.
Watson began investigations. About
the same time Police Officer Fred
Schlapback discovered that John Cald-
we'll had been offering privately large
lot of plaidS for sale. Schlapback fol-
lowed up the clue in conjunction with a
detective sent on from Atlanta. 1t was
discovered that a systematic plan was
being operated by an organized band.
The scheme was to have a member Of
the gang conceal himself in loaded
freight car at some station north OF this,
select so much Of the cargo rs he deemed
available, and AZ the train passed the
fair grounds, Just outside the city limits,
the goods were to be thrown out. Con-
iederatcs would be in waxing to spirit
the goods away until they could be sold.
Last night the supposed scene OF opera
tons was watched. About 10 O'Clock,
after the South-bound freight had passed,
4 wagon drove up to the railroad bank
and was hastily loaded with boxes, ap-
parently heavy, and driven away. The
watchers followed, but in 4 manner un-
accountable lost sight OF the vehicle al
together. This morning q search OF the
vicinity was made and Two boxes OF to-
bacco were found lying by the road-bed
and another was found in 10 Harris'S,
marked to Wetumpka, Ala. Signs were
evident where large lot OF boxes had
been thrown from the train and where a
wagon and its load disappeared to is a
mystery. A number Of other articles
were found in other places, bnt none
can be identified until the tracers are
received from Atlanta. The arrests were
made as detailed. The officers still want
Porter Wellby, negro of bad character
and unusual intelligence, who is believed
to be the ringleader in the affair. He
escaped this morning and no trace OF
him has been found. Other parties are
under suspicion. but so far no railroad
men have been implicated. Since his
incarceration the white man, Caldwell, L,
has informed the chiefotpolice, Kennedy,
where 4 lot Of I 800 yards of plaids can
be found at a store in the country, and
his statement is taken as indicating .
clear ''squeal" later on. The whole
business is regarded as conSummate
piece OF systematic robbery, and nothing
else has been talked Of on the streets
to-day.